In this context it is noteworthy that, although the use of returnable containers
may seem to be ecologically sound, companies will consider the
economic and logistic implications first. From this point of view it is
disadvantageous for the sender that the service fee of a returnable container
usually needs to be somewhat higher than the cost of a cardboard box.
However, the latter may change when a large number of organizations
participate in the system. Then it may become feasible to reduce the service
fee. Furthermore, the price of cardboard boxes may rise as soon as the market
price of waste paper rises.